I do believe that is the main issues with Ford. Also, if I recall from my latest issue of CR, the fact that Ford has 3 vehicles that are too new to rate. Fusion, Escape, and can't think of the third. Ford is still a good brand. I do know that the Explorer and Edge were not recommended because of reliability issues. I still maintain that regardless of issues Honda, Prius, Subaru, and Volt owners will never admit they have issues. When CR sends out their yearly survey to Subscribers I think these owners will not answer totally honestly. I have no proof of course, but just in talking to many people that own these vehicles they seem to have a blind loyalty to them.

My Ford Touch has been a problem for Ford and so has the dual clutch transmission in the Focus. The one guy I know that owns a '12 Focus has had the trans replaced already.

I would like ta think that here on Edmunds we could find truckloads of information on this in the Ford Focus threads. Eh?

Chime in, I too believe in utmost honesty when rating my vehicles. That's the only way ta treat those CR deals. Or tests.

Or reliability reports. JD Power, too. I can tell you that my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS has been totally reliable and a ball ta drive. The battery I just installed set me back $101.20, but that's because the beautiful compact's battery needs 550 cold-cranking amps ta handle all of the advanced electronics on the car. Not a big deal, huh?

If I didn't know myself better I'd say I've become a Mitsubishi lifer. Of sorts.

Europeans have a short temper. Something they don't like and they start riots, smash windows and burn cars and buildings. I wonder why someone choose to place auto-plants in Europe - labor is expensive and unruly and regulations do not allow any flexibility. They can smash windows and burn cars as much as they want but there is no way to stop train wreck. Sovereign defaults and austerity measures are coming and there will be more plant closures. Ford is ahead of curve and is doing tough but right thing to survive. I am not so sure about GM - they as usual kick can down the road. FIAT and Peugeot may go bankrupt if there are not government bailouts and believe national bailouts in EU are against law.

"Ford is extending the warranty and offering another upgrade that enhances the voice-recognition and navigation technology on its much-criticized MyFord Touch infotainment system, Mark Fields, soon to be the automaker's chief operating officer, told reporters Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The warranty on the MyFord Touch system will now last for five years, up from three years. MyLincoln Touch will carry a six-year warranty, said Ford spokesman Alan Hall."

"Ford claims its Transit Connect will deliver at least 5 m.p.g. better fuel economy on the highway (30 m.p.g. or better) than a Ram C/V Cargo Van while the wagon makes the same claim over a 7-seat Toyota Sienna minivan. Payload is an estimated 1,600 pounds."

Well, I am officially out of the minivan biz (though one as an extra car would be useful) but I sure hope a redesigned Transit Connect is better than the current one. When I was stuck in NYC for three months and had to take cabs everywhere I had the misfortune to ride in a Transit Connect. After the experience I made a point to not flag down another!

I'm curious to see how the Connect actually performs. If it delivers over 30 highway in the real world with that 1.6 ecoboost, and isn't a total dog, I might loosely ponder it with the wife. I sure would like to see them plunk a small turbo diesel in there that returns about 40. I'd be all over that. It'd be my Fiesta with 5x (or more?) the space!

Say what you want about Consumer Reports. When I was young I thought Toyota and Honda paid them off. Now that I am older, I see they were correct about everything. 2012 Auto issue has Toyota taking the top 3 spots in 3 different catagories. Of course that includes Scion and Lexus. Ford however fell from a top 10 spot to 2nd to last. Now I have a theory that I wonder if anyone else believes. When the government bailed out GM and Chrysler, Ford didn't take any money, (from what I understood), so the perception was, they were ok, so people took a "let's buy from them" attitude...thing is they really weren't any better. It was all smoke and mirrors. Now after selling more cars than thay have in recent years, people are not satisfied and realizing that the cars really aren't "that great".

"According to Polk Automotive, which tracks registration data for vehicles, the Ford brand had the highest loyalty rate of any brand among consumers in 2012. Polk has been handing out a loyalty award for 17 years. The firm&#146;s data is the best means of tracking consumer behavior because it can tell which households have vehicles from a certain brand and which ones continue to stay in the brand after a new vehicle is purchased.

Ford&#146;s loyalty rate for the brand is 61%. For Ford Motor Co., which includes Lincoln, it is 62%. The industry average is 48%."

I am thinking of buying a 2010 Ford Fusion SE. Can anyone tell me how the reliability of these cars are, does anyone own an older own that may have some insight? I want to know if this car is going to last me many years to come. Thanks!

I have a 2009 SEL V6 which isn't a direct comparison since the 2010 was pretty much a redesign and a new engine and I believe transmission. I know that Consumer Reports rates the 2009 very high in reliability and also since I have owned it from day 1, which was late October of 2008, I know that it is a great car. Though I am chomping at the bit for a new Fusion or an Optima SX. Promised my wife that I would run it for 8 years since we just bought a new 2012 Highlander Limited AWD back in May of 2012. Got about 4 years left if I can hold out. I do like the looks of the 2010 through 2012 Fusion. I don't think I have seen one 2013 Fusion outside a dealers lot yet.

"Strong North American profits will net record profit sharing checks of $8,300 on average for 45,800 hourly workers, to be paid March 14.

Ford reported its highest fourth-quarter pre-tax profit since the same period in 1999 at $1.7 billion or 31 cents per share, beating analyst expectations of 25 cents per share. Net income for the quarter was $1.6 billion despite losses in Europe of $732 million.

Bob Shanks, chief financial officer, had warned that Ford would lose more than $1.5 billion in Europe in 2012 and the year ended with a $1.8 billion loss in the region marked by economic upheaval and high unemployment."